Effect of epididymal isolation on the protein component of bull eididymal tissue

Four fractions of protein from intact and 'isolated' bull epididymides were extracted. The total extractable protein was increased by isolation mainly due to increases in the lipoprotein and DNA-protein fractions. Changes of lipoprotein may be associated with the increase of lipid which also occurs in isolated tissue. This may reflect the increase of pentose cycle activity and lipogenesis due to the absence of spermatozoa in the epididymal tubules. Changes of DNA-protein may indicate a change of protein metabolism. Electrophoresis of protein fractions showed that individual proteins may be changed by the zonal origin of the epididymal tissue and the presence or absence of spermatozoa in the epididymal tubules.